Wondering if anyone has any interest in a performance build for a L8 Packard engine. Interested in swapping tech and parts sources, I am building mine up as we speak and I know how hard it is to get reliable info on where to get what or what is a good modification to get a gain in power.
Packard is one of the best straight eights for this, they made them up to 1954, there are quite a few around, and parts are not difficult to get. This web site has a page for Packard hot rods, there has been quite a bit of discussion on the subject of hop ups. Packard Motor Car Information - Packard Forums You can do the basic, traditional steps like mill the head, have the cam reground, shim the valve springs, add 2 carbs on a modified manifold, or get a stock single 4 barrel manifold, split the exhaust, recurve the distributor and shave the flywheel. You can get 25% or 35% more HP without spending a bundle. If you want to go farther than that, you quickly reach a point of diminishing returns where you would be better off just using an OHV V8. An alternative would be to add a McCulloch or Paxton supercharger to a stock engine. This will give the same power boost, and cost the same or less. There are a few old high compression aluminum heads, and aftermarket manifolds around. They turn up from time to time, but usually sell for a lot of money.
Rusty, I think we have talked on the Inliners forum lol. CNC-Dude is considering doing a run of aluminum heads for these things which I am very excited about . I need to get some pictures of my project up It may just be my opinion but I will be doing some pretty neat things with mine, its been many years in the works and more than once I have been discouraged about finding someone who doesnt laugh when I tell them what I am trying to do.
I love the look of these old engines and in 1954, the last of the flathead straight 8 Packards was a 359 cubic inch that came from the factory with an aluminum head and was rated at 220 horsepower. It was a nine main engine with 7.8:1 compression ratio I think. I had one in a Packard Patrician that I got running but needed everything redone on the car and I sold it last year. I never drove it and miss having the engine to put in something else. The car was complete and not very rusty, so I couldn't imagine parting it out and keeping the engine, though my selfish side really wanted to. All the stuff that Rusty O'Toole said will work, but be prepared, it's a very heavy engine whether you get the 327 or 359. The aluminum head ones only came in Patricians, Clippers, and Caribbeans if I remember my research. Maybe the hearses and ambulances as well. I would love to see someone spice one up, and I'd like to do it myself someday. Too many projects and not enough time or money get in the way of dreams sometimes.
Ill get some pics up of mine. I am in the early tear down stage of mine. As it stands today custom pistons and rods, Clay Smith reground cam, porting and polishing, slightly bigger valves sourced from Manly, If the new production Aluminum head comes about I will use that if not I have a 288 iron head that will get me to about 8:1, Turbo and meth injection, 700R4 trans and a 9 inch rear, ARP hardware, and a custom main girdle. I will have to sort out the induction a bit more either using 2 holly 2bbls or a carb converted to a TB with a Magasquirt ECU. Not super traditional but estimations from the turbo company put it around 450 HP at the engine with an intercooler and 14 pounds of boost.
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